A WELSH professor who survived the 7/7 London suicide bombings from point-blank range has received a pitiful £10 payout for his trauma.

John Tulloch could have been killed when a bomb exploded just three feet away from him as he sat on a London Underground train at Edgware Road tube station.

The professor was sitting opposite suicide bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan when he detonated his bomb, which killed six people and left scores of other passengers horrifically injured.

But last night, the 63-year-old university lecturer told how he has received a measly £10 from the Government as he - and hundreds of other victims - wait for compensation.

Prof Tulloch, who works at Brunel University in London, but lives in Penarth, near Cardiff, owes his life to a briefcase which 10 months ago this morning sat between him and the bomb, and shielded him from the worst of the blast.

Miraculously, the academic only suffered minor injuries to his thigh in the explosion.

The sociology lecturer last night said: "I have so far only received £10 to cover the cost of the photos of my remaining scars that the Government have asked for.

"I have had nothing yet from compensation, although I did get a few thousand pounds from the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund. They are certainly taking a long time over it."

The payment was blasted by Tory Monmouthshire MP David Davies who called it "appalling".

Prof Tulloch's wait comes as hundreds of victims pile pressure on the Government to pay out.

Interim emergency relief payments were made by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund, set up by London Mayor Ken Livingstone after the terror attacks.

All of the compensation claims on behalf of the Government are being handled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

So far, CICA has made 106 payments totalling more than £1m to victims of the attacks in which 52 people were killed and 750 were injured. It is thought that up to 2,500 people could receive payments. And the organisation has faced repeated criticism for the delay in paying compensation to victims and their families.

Terror victim Martine Wright - who lost both legs in the Aldgate tube bomb - has already urged the Government to shake up the compensation process for victims of terrorist attacks.

But Prof Tulloch, who is writing a book about the tragedy, is determined to secure compensation. Although his injuries were minimal, the lecturer has suffered loss of confidence, vertigo and a loss of hearing caused by perforated ear drums. He has also had to undergo regular consultations with a psychologist and he still suffers flashbacks every time he boards a tube train.

"I still haven't come to terms with travelling on tubes. So far I've only gone on them in company, but it's still a sweat-making experience," he said.

"I'm slightly better on buses, but it's still a struggle. I never stop thinking about it. It took me a long time to build up the confidence to go outside. Everyone seemed to be racing past at a million miles an hour. It was really scary."

Prof Tulloch's battle for compensation was backed last night by Robin Webb, the Cardiff brother of Laura Webb, who was killed in the Edgware Road blast. His family is also awaiting damages.

Mr Webb, who works as a press officer for Cardiff Council, said: "My sympathies go to him. I know claims are being processed but it does seem to be taking a while. I don't think it's right that these payments are taking so long.

"I cannot understand why the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund has been able to make payments when people are still waiting for the Government to pay out."

Tory Monmouthshire MP David Davies added: "This is appalling. It is almost a year since the London bombings.

"It's another example of this Government's incompetence. I don't see any reason why they have not paid out by now."

Bosses at CICA were unavailable for comment last night. But after the bombings, a spokesman said: "We are working hard to make sure that victims of these terrible bombings receive the compensation they are entitled to as quickly as possible."